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Rock climber found dead

SOUTHINGTON -- An experienced rock climber was found dead early Sunday morning hanging on the northeast side of Ragged Mountain.

Darin Findley, 28, of 3 Glemore Drive, Farmington, was pulled loose from his safety harness by members of the Southington Fire Department after police received report from a hiker of a "rock climbing accident" at 9:50 a.m.

Findley, who police said was a veteran climber with almost a decade of experience who taught other climbers, was suspended about 18 feet from the ground at the base of Ragged Mountain’s 100-foot-high cliff.

According to Southington police, Findley was "obviously deceased" and his body was transported to the office of the chief medical examiner in Farmington for an autopsy. The autopsy is scheduled for today.

Police said Findley’s death appeared to be accidental, stressing that "at this time ..foul play is not suspected."

The case is being investigated by members of the Southington Police Department Detective Division and investigators from the medical examiner’s office.

It could not be learned Sunday when Findley set out for his climb or the time of his death.

A member of Southington’s emergency services said Findley would have been exposed to extreme temperatures -- below freezing -- if he was on the mountain overnight.

Ragged Mountain is a popular climbing location for rock climbers and hikers. Rock climbers have been visiting the area since the 1930s when mountaineering clubs from Yale University, the University of Connecticut and Wesleyan University started climbing the rock face, according to the Ragged Mountain Foundation.

"The main cliff is considered to be one of the finest climbing areas in the Northeast and climbers from throughout the region visit the cliff. This crag has been featured in many climbing guidebooks and has a rich history," according to the RMF Web site .